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Honda Element Real World MPG

117 messages,  Last post on Aug 10, 2009 at 4:17 PM

You are in the Honda Element Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Honda Element, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV


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#92 of 117
26 mpg with awd/auto is superb by micweb
Aug 05, 2008 (3:53 pm)
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26 mpg with awd/auto is superb
#93 of 117
Re: 26 mpg with awd/auto is superb [micweb] by bigfur
Aug 05, 2008 (4:04 pm)
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Replying to: micweb (Aug 05, 2008 3:53 pm)

So far my best is about 24.5 in an 07 awd auto. Winters here in MN drop it to about 21.
#94 of 117
Re: 26 mpg with awd/auto is superb [micweb] by ccirelli
Aug 06, 2008 (12:00 pm)
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Replying to: micweb (Aug 05, 2008 3:53 pm)

Better yet - today I calculated 28.01! No highway miles on that calculation, no AC either.
 
Again essentially I am just feathering that gas pedal, and taking easy up hills - and coasting on the way down. Slow starts & stops, and I do right around the speed limit, 5 to 10 mph above.
 
craig
#95 of 117
Anyone know why the lighter Element gets same hiway MPG by coldcranker
Aug 06, 2008 (2:58 pm)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 06, 2008 12:00 pm)

The EPA rates the 2wd/automatic 2008 Element at 20/25 city/highway MPG. My '05 Freestyle, which weighs about 500 lbs more (3499 lb Element vs. 3959 lb Freestyle), is EPA rated at 18/25 city/highway, using the latest MPG test methods to compare. I routinely get the EPA numbers and often better, and have reached 30 MPG on a long trip with steady ~60 mph speeds. The Freestyle has a 3.0L 204 hp engine, and the Element is 500 lbs lighter with 2.4L 166 hp engine. ....Is there a gas leak in the Element? .... Maybe it can be simply accounted for by gearing alone, the Element being geared down without a good high range ratio for highway cruising. Are Element owners seeing high RPMs in highway cruising, compared to the Freestyle which does 1500 RPM at 60 MPH on flat roads?
 
The Element has a conventional 5-speed automatic while the Freestyle has a CVT, so maybe the difference is there, but how does that make up for 500 lbs of mass difference?
 
I like the Element and want to buy one, but am unwilling to get about the same MPG numbers as my bigger, heavier, more powerfull vehicle I have now for a 4-cylinder light Element. You'd think the Freestyle's bigger 17 inch wheels would reduce MPG to way below the Element, but thats not the case. What is going on with the Element?
#96 of 117
Re: Anyone know why the lighter Element gets same hiway MPG [coldcranker] by ccirelli
Aug 06, 2008 (7:20 pm)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 06, 2008 2:58 pm)

Well - I think we're pretty close. Regardless of what the EPA numbers are, again - I am getting between high 26 and low 28 - with less than 10% highway travel.
 
I am reasonably certain that I could hit 30 on a long flat trip as well, based on what I've seen in my first three tanks.
 
At 60 mph the element (awd ex auto) hovers just under 2K rpm, if I recall correctly (sorry - I've only had it for 10 days..). At 70, 2.25K rpm. Not bad at all, and right inline with my Civic.
 
A lot of factors could go into why these two cars get about the same mileage, despite the weight and hp difference - the short answer is, that's just how they're engineered. Specifically, the CVT and general aerodynamics could be a big part of it as well.
#97 of 117
Re: 28 mpg is tops [ccirelli] by dslightam
Aug 07, 2008 (10:36 am)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 05, 2008 9:33 am)

We have a dog too. We call the car a rolling dog crate. It is the most versitle vehicle I've ever interacted with and I have a hard time thinking of a more versitle one. I'm a little worried about the future child seat and increasing mileage crunch though.
#98 of 117
Re: 28 mpg is tops [dslightam] by ccirelli
Aug 07, 2008 (10:52 am)
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Replying to: dslightam (Aug 07, 2008 10:36 am)

Hahaha - "rolling dog crate" - perfect!
 
Ya between my dogs and my photo gear, it so versatile. Coming from a 36+ mpg Civic, it is still worth the difference in mpg.
 
I think the car will work well with your child seat, with the way the doors are designed. And it's an added safety that kids can't open the back doors without the front doors being opened first (although, to some, this is not a plus...).
#99 of 117
Re: Anyone know why the lighter Element gets same hiway MPG [ccirelli] by coldcranker
Aug 07, 2008 (4:29 pm)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 06, 2008 7:20 pm)

The Freestyle should have horrible aerodynamics, just as the Element is not that good either. They are blunt boxes with only a little curviness here and there in the corners. Therefore, I don't know that aero has much to do with the fact that a heavier, faster Freestyle has about the same MPG as a lighter Element. Without other ideas about where the extra gasoline is going in the Element, I'd have to say that it must be the effects of gear ratios accounting for it. With a higher top gear, the Element should be able to reach better highway MPG.
#100 of 117
Re: Anyone know why the lighter Element gets same hiway MPG [coldcranker] by stevedebi
Aug 13, 2008 (3:19 pm)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 07, 2008 4:29 pm)

"The Freestyle should have horrible aerodynamics, just as the Element is not that good either. They are blunt boxes with only a little curviness here and there in the corners. "
 
I owned a 206 FS, and I don't think the aerodynamics are nearly as bad as the Element. The Element is boxy; the Freestyle (while is has a pretty large frontal area) is much "smoother". It is based on the Ford 500.
 
I think the difference between the two is the CVT in the FS. When coupled with the 3.0 engine, the computer can use the lowest possible RPM.
#101 of 117
2007 Element EX AUTO 4WD MPG by ragets
Aug 13, 2008 (5:17 pm)
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I cannot believe I did this great with my car. I've been averaging 23-25MPG. But on my last tank I put 300 miles on and only filled up 9.78 gallons. That means I got 30.67MPG!!!! I couldn't believe it!
I use Shell Gas because it seems to run better and get better MPG's.
I go about 75% highway, 20% dirt/gravel roads, 5%city.
I ease off the gas pedal, brake easy, only use the A/C in spurts on the highway, use windows in town.
I wish I would have gotten the manual transmission though. I hate how long this auto takes to shift up and down. I wish I could do it myself!

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